Log grinder



Feb. 26, 1963 a. E. CHILDRESS 3,078,886..

LOG GRINDER Filed Oct. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Glen 5 Chi/dress 1N VENTOR.

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Feb, 26, 1963 s. E. CHILDRESS LOG GRINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct 21,1960 E5 l I I i 5 L4 94 39 Glen E. CW/dress 28 Fig.4

INVENILQR.

g v WWW United States Patent 3,073,886 LOG GRINDER Glen E. Childress,Rte. 2, Hebron, Ind. Filed Oct. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 64,05? 17 Claims.(Cl. 144-208) This invention comprises a novel and useful log grinderand more particularly relates to a device adapted to more effectivelyand with greater facility effect a debarking or grinding action upon thesurfaces of logs.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device which willgreatly facilitate the operation of treating logs by debarking orgrinding the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordancewith the foregoing objects which shall be of a portable or mobile natureto enable the device to be readily moved to the logs to be treatedthereby eliminating the necessity for additional handling of the logsfor the purpose of bringing them to and positioning them for treatmentby a grinding or debarking device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordancewith the foregoing objects which shall be capable of ready attachment toand mounting upon a "conventional lifting assembly with whichconventional tractors and other vehicles are provided thereby enablingthe device to be readily transported to a desired location and to bethereafter readily maneuvered upon the mobile chassis to properlyposition the device for engaging a seof a support structure having abase for receiving thereon a log to be treated together with a carriageoverlying the base and provided with means for adjusting the carriagetowards and from the base, there being further provided a grinderassembly including grinding elements mounted upon the carriage andpositionable for engaging a log to be treated when the latter is engagedby the base.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide anapparatus in accordance with the preceding objects which shall includepower operating means for effecting a tilting or pivoting movement ofthe entire unit upon the elevating means of the vehicle which shallfurther include power means for raising and lowering the carriage andthe grinder elements carried thereby with respect to the base, and whichshall still further include power means for effecting operation of thegrinders which power means shall be mounted upon and carried by thecarriagev A still further and more specific object of the invention isto provide a device in accordance with the two immediately precedingobjects wherein there shall be provided improved means carried by thebase for guidingly mounting and supporting the carriage for verticaladjusted movement towards and from the base and which shall be operableindependently of the means for effecting operation of the grinders.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FZGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment ofthe log grinder forming the subject matter of this invention andillustrating the same mounted upon a conventional type of elevatingmeans carried by a tractor;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken upon an enlarged scale of thegrinding unit of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation of the grinder unit of FIGURE 2being taken from the left end thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a view in vertical section through the grinder unit andillustrating the manner in which the grinder elements are operativelyengaged with a log supported by the base of the support structure forthe purpose of debarking or grinding the log;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIGURE 4 with the logbeing omitted from this view; and

FIGURE 6 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the carriage ofthe grinder unit.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 it will be observed that the numeral iltldesignates general-1y a grinder unit constituting a preferred embodimentof this invention which is shown in operative position for grinding ordebarking a log 12 with the grinder unit being mounted upon andvertically movable by a conventional elevating means 11.4 in the form ofa pair of lift arms mounted upon a mobile wheeled vehicle such as atractor 16. The lift arms are of a conventional character being suitablypivoted to the framework of the tractor for vertical swinging movementabout a pivot, not shown, and power operating means such as a fluidpressure actuating cylinder 18 having a piston, not shown, with a pistonrod 20, the latter being connected to the lift arm assembly 14 andutilized to ad justably raise or lower the grinder unit it) as requiredto enable the latter to etfectively engage and operate upon a log to betreated.

Inasmuch as the nature of the wheeled vehicle and the particularconstruction of the lift means 14- may be widely varied, and is initself not essential to an understanding of the invention hereindisclosed and claimed, a further description or reference of the same isdeemed to be unnecessary.

The grinder unit It? consists of a support structure which includes abase 22, a pair of standards 56 rigidly connected to an end of the baseto which the lift arm a sembly 14 is connected, and a carriage 26 havinga grinder assembly including grinder elements 28 mounted thereon. Thecarriage and the grinder elements are vertically adjustable upon thestandards 56 by a mechanism to be hereinafter described and power isapplied to the grinder elements for effecting actuation of the same by apower means mounted upon this carriage.

Referring now especially to FIGURE 4 taken in conjunction with FIGURE 5it will be observed that the base 22 consists of a plurality of parallelpointed rods or tines which form an open grill-like base and which arerigidly connected at what may be termed their rear ends as by astructural member 32. Disposed beneath the rods or tines 3d and securedto the underside of the base in any desired manner is a tray orreceptacle 32 which serves to collect the bark or other material groundfrom the log by the grinding elements and which fall through the tines30 during the operation of the device. The receptacle 32 is useful whenit is desired to collect the cuttings or particles obtained from the logduring treatment thereof, either for the purpose of using theseparticles or for otherwise disposing of them. In some instances,however, if it is not desired to collect these particles the tray orreceptacle 32 may be omitted.

The spaced tines or rods 30 of the grill-like base 22 thus serve as asupport surface upon which a log 12 to be treated may be supported or bywhich such a log may be engaged if the log is supported in some othermanner. Indicated generally by the numeral 34 is a mounting bracketcarried by the end of the lift arm assembly 14 forming a part hereof,and which is adapted to constitute a pivot support for the grinder unitIll. Thus, as will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 4 and 5,this bracket includes a transversely extending frame 3 member 36suitably connected to the end of the arm assembly and from the oppositesides of which are providid forwardly extending frame members 38. Theselatter, see also FIGURE 3, embrace the ends of the grinder unit and bymeans of pivot fasteners such as the bolts 40 mount the grinder unitupon the lift arm assembly for tilting movement about the horizontalaxes of these pivot bolts. A controlled tilting movement is given to thegrinder unit by means of a fluid pressure cylinder and piston unitindicated by the numeral 42 which is pivotally connected as at 44 to abracket 46 caried by the frame member 36, and which has has its otherend pivoted as at 48 to a crank arm 50 rigidly secured to the grinderunit 10 as to the base 22 thereof. By means of suitable fluid pressureconduits 52 and 54, fluid pressure from any suitable source such as fromthe fluid pressure power take-off conventional with tractors may besupplied to the cylinder and piston unit 42 and thus effect a controlledtilting of the grinder unit 10 to assist in positioning the base of thelatter and thereby facilitate its engagement with a log to be treated.

Rigidly secured to the base 22 and rising from what may be termed therear end thereof are a pair of standards 56 in the form of channelmembers and which have their longitudinal slots opening or exposedoutwardly of the channel members. Guidably andslidably mounted upon andsupported by the standards 56 is the carriage 26. The carriage includesa transversely extending plate 60 which lies between the previously mentioned arms 38 of the bracket 34 and which plate 60 as shown in FIGURE 4may likewise consist of a channel member. Secured to this plate 60 andprojecting forwardly therefrom are a pair of arms 62 having at theirforward extremities transversely aligned bushing or bearings 64 in whichis journalled a shaft 66. Intermediate their ends the arms 62 upon theirinner faces have secured thereto T-shaped blocks 68 which compriseguides which are slidably received in the channel members 56 of thestandards. Thus, the carriage is secured to and supported by thestandards and is guided for vertical sliding movement therein.

Referring to FIGURE 3 it will be observed that power operating meanscomprising elevating means for the carriage are provided consisting offluid pressure operated cylinder and piston units 70 rigidly secured atthe upper end of brackets 72 projecting laterally outwardly from theupper ends of the standards 56, and connected at the lower ends tooutwardly projecting brackets 74 upon the arms 62 of the carriage.Suitable fluid pressure conduits '76 are connected to the fluid pressureactuating cylinder and piston units 70 and likewise may be connected tothe hydraulic power take-off of the tractor 16 in order to apply fluidpressure to these units and thus effect a controlled vertical movementof the carriage towards and from the base to thus adjustably positionthe carriage and maintain the carriage in its adjusted position.

The grinder assembly 28 is both driven by the shaft 66 and also ispivotally connected by the latter to the carriage for vertical swingingmovement thereon. The grinder assembly includes a plurality of grinderelements 80 each consisting of an endless belt or chain having its rearportion entrained over driving sprockets 82 fixed to the shaft 66, andhaving their forward portions entrained over similar sprockets 84carried by a transverse shaft 86. Plate-like frame members 88 arejournalled upon the shafts 66 and 84 and each of these framelikesupports 88 lies within one of the endless chains or belts 80, tothereby impart rigidity to the entire assembly. Thus, the plurality ofgrinder elements consisting of the members 80 constitutes a relativelyrigid assembly which is capable of tilting movement upon the shaft 66 sothat the abrasive or grinding elements may be tilted upwardly ordownwardly so as to thereby rest upon the surface of a log 12 as shownin FIGURE 4 in order to treat the same by grinding or debarking the log.It

4 will be understood that the chain members may resemble chain sawshaving suitable cutting teeth, not shown, secured thereto to form thedesired operation of treating the log, whether for the purpose ofdebarking the log or for grinding the same to produce wood particlestherefrom.

Mounted upon the carriage 28 and particularly upon the transverse member60 at one side thereof is a source of power comprising an actuatingmeans for the grinding elements or grinding means preferably in the formof a fluid motor 90. This motor is provided with a driving sprocket 92connected as by a sprocket chain 94 to a driven sprocket 96 carried bythe shaft 66. A pair of fluid pressure conduits 98 and 100 are connectedto the fluid motor and serve to conduct fluid pressure to and from thefluid motor from any suitable source of fluid pressure such as thehydraulic power takeoff of the tractor 16.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the operation and advantages ofthis invention will now be readily apparent. Since the entire grinderunit 10 is mounted upon a mobile chassis or vehicle 16 it is readilytransported from place to place so that it may be readily moved to aparticular log which is to be treated by the grinder unit. This effectsa great saving in labor and in time which would be required to transportthe logs to a single grinding or log treating station as has beenheretofore conventional and common. The power elevating means of thetractor is capable of operating the lift arms 14 to thus raise or lowerthe unit 10 to any desired elevation enabling it to reach logs indifferent positions as upon the side of a hill, bank or the like inorder to effectively treat the log as by debarking the same, grindingparticles from the log and the like. It is to be understood that anysuitable means may be provided for causing the log to rotate as the sameis held between the base 22 and the grinding elements 28 in order toeffectively treat the entire surface of the log. This operation isgreatly enhanced in its etficiency by the pivotal mounting of thegrinding assembly 28 upon the shaft 66 since this enables the grindingassembly to be tilted upwardly and downwardly as required to accommodatelogs of different thickness.

Moreover, the shaft 66 serves a joint means for effecting this tiltingof the grinder assembly and also for imparting power thereto.

Disposition of the power source 90 on the carriage and upon the oppositeend thereof from the mounting of the grinder assembly 28 serves to someextent to counterbalance the weight of the latter and thereby facilitatethe effective operation of the power operating means 70 for verticallyadjusting the carriage and the grinder assembly with respect to the base22.

Finally, the power operated means for effecting a tilting of the entiregrinder unit 10 about its pivot 40 further enables the device to bereadily engaged upon logs in different positions.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mobile device for debarking and grinding logs comprising incombination a wheeled chassis having power operated lift arms mountedthereon for vertical swinging movement, a support structure, meansmounting said support structure on said lift arms, said supportstructure including a base for engaging a log to be treated, standardsrising from said base, a carriage overlying said base and mounted uponsaid standards for movement towards and from said base, operating meansconnected to said carriage for eifecting movement of the latter towardsand from said base, grinding means on said carriage positionable tooverlie said base and engage and treat a log engaged by said base, andactuating means connected to said grinding means for operating thelatter.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes pivotmeans connecting said support structure to said lift arms, and poweroperating means secured to said lift arms and to said support structurefor tilting the latter about said pivot means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is mountedupon said carriage.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said grinding means are mountedupon said carriage for swinging movement towards and from said base.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprises aplurality of endless translatory elements disposed in side-by-siderelation.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said cutting elements consist ofan endless band having cutting teeth thereon.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a shaft rotatably mounted insaid carriage, and sprockets provided on said shaft, said bands passingaround said sprockets.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said shaft constitutes pivot meansfor said grinding means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said actuating means is connectedto said shaft.

10. A portable log debarking and grinding attachment for a wheeledchassis having vertically swingable power operated lift arms, saidattachment comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to thestated lift arms, a log receiving base pivotally connected to saidmounting bracket for swinging movement in a vertical plane, poweroperating means connected to said bracket and to said base for swingingthe latter, standards rising from said base, a carriage overlying saidbase and slidably mounted on said standards for movement toward and awayfrom the base, operating means connected to said carriage for slidingthe same on said standards, grinding means on said carriage positionedto overlie said base and engage a log onthe base, and actuating meansconnected to said grinding means for operating the latter.

I I. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein said actuating means ismounted upon said carriage.

12. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein said grinding means aremounted upon said carriage for swinging movement towards and from saidbase.

13. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein said grinding meanscomprise a plurality of endless translatory elements disposed inside-by-side relation.

14. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein said elements consist ofan endless band having cutting teeth thereon.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 including a shaft rotatablymounted insaid carriage, and sprockets provided on said shaft, saidbands passing around said sprockets.

16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein said shaft constitutespivot means for said grinding means.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 wherein said actuating means areconnected to said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,017,655 Drake Feb. 20, 1912 2,025,337 Camden et a1. Dec. 24, 19352,549,236 Rathert et al Apr. 17, 1951 2,642,904 Pearce June 23, 19532,759,501 Kliever Aug. 21, 1956 2,878,843 Edwards Mar. 24, 1959

1. A MOBILE DEVICE FOR DEBARKING AND GRINDING LOGS COMPRISING INCOMBINATION A WHEELED CHASSIS HAVING POWER OPERATED LIFT ARMS MOUNTEDTHEREON FOR VERTICAL SWINGING MOVEMENT, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, MEANSMOUNTING SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE ON SAID LIFT ARMS, SAID SUPPORTSTRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE FOR ENGAGING A LOG TO BE TREATED, STANDARDSRISING FROM SAID BASE, A CARRIAGE OVERLYING SAID BASE AND MOUNTED UPONSAID STANDARDS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND FROM SAID BASE, OPERATING MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER TOWARDSAND FROM SAID BASE, GRINDING MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE POSITIONABLE TOOVERLIE SAID BASE AND ENGAGE AND TREAT A LOG ENGAGED BY SAID BASE, ANDACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GRINDING MEANS FOR OPERATING THELATTER.